MerCruiser Oil Pumps

This lubricates these systems, allows the use of higher-capacity fluid bearings and also assists in engine cooling.

Most American engines designed prior to the 1990s use gear-type pumps, with two spur-type gears mounted inside an enclosed housing. Oil is supplied to the pump via the oil filter, which catches any stray particles, such as swarf, which would damage the pump. If an oil pump stops working, or there is little or no oil because of leaks, engine parts can overheat in a matter of seconds and seize from a lack of lubrication. A boat’s oil pump is needed to make sure the engine oil reaches all moving parts that require lubrication during an engine’s operation. Oil pumps are usually either inside the oil pan and driven by a camshaft or outside the pan and driven by a crankshaft. When those engine parts start moving, the pump starts working at the same time to pump oil to reduce friction and wear between moving parts and prevent the engine from seizing. Most oil pumps are driven off the camshaft or distributor shaft. There are two primary types of oil pump used in automotive wet-sump systems: The gear pump and the gear-rotor pump. From the pump, the oil travels around the engine via channels, grooves and holes to lubricate the cam bearings and crankshaft, while the crankshaft itself will send oil up to the base of the pistons and lubricate the piston rings. The oil pumps primary purpose is to circulate engine oil under pressure to the bearings, pistons and the camshaft. Checking or replacing an oil pump is not part of routine service or maintenance, but because it’s critical to an engine any warning signs should be addressed immediately. Oil pumps usually last the lifetime of the boat. The oil pump's job is to suck oil in from the crankcase and push it through the filter and oil galleries to the crankshaft and camshaft bearings. In older boats the most common type is the gear type oil pump, which uses two sets of gears to pump the oil out. Most modern engines have a wet sump (a reservoir of oil beneath the crank shaft), which is where the oil pump is installed. Oil is also needed at the top of the engine, to lubricate the lifters, rocker arms and valve stems and springs. The oil pump is designed to create pressure in the lubrication system. The oil pump provides the force that delivers oil through galleries and passages around the engine. The reliability of the engine largely comes down to how efficient lubrication is and how well the oil pump is working. The oil pump in an internal combustion engine circulates engine oil under pressure to the rotating bearings, the sliding pistons and the camshaft of the engine. Internal combustion engines have had oil pumps for decades, and almost all of them are driven directly by the engine. The pump itself typically consists of two gears in a close-fit housing. A look at the three main signs that you need to fix or change your oil pump: low oil pressure, high engine temperature, and noise. This lubricates the bearings, allows the use of higher-capacity fluid bearings and also assists in cooling the engine.